Considered one of the greatest catchers in Major League history, Mickey Cochrane compiled a .320 lifetime batting average with 119 homers and 832 RBI while playing for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers. Cochrane's playing career came to a sudden end on May 25, 1937 when he was hit in the head by a pitch by Yankees pitcher Bump Hadley. Hospitalized for seven days, the injury nearly killed him. However, he recovered and went on to manage in the Majors for 5 seasons before being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.
I completed this sketch card in June 2012.
10 random facts about Mickey Cochrane:
- Cochrane attended Boston University, where he played 5 different sports.
- Despite being a catcher, which is a position many slower players have played, he was often inserted into the leadoff spot by Athletics manager Connie Mack.
- Cochrane won the 1928 Most Valuable Player Award mostly due to his leadership and defensive skills, when he led the American League in putouts and hit for a .293 batting average along with 10 home runs and 58 RBI.
- He would win 3 World Series as a player- 2 with the Athletics and 1 with the Tigers.
- During the Tigers' World Series title run in 1935, he served as the team's player-manager.
- Due in part to his high strung nature, he suffered a nervous breakdown during the 1936 season.
- Cochrane hit a home run in the last official at-bat of his Major League career.
- Despite the head injury that resulted from his beaning, Cochrane served in the United States Navy during World War II.
- His .320 batting average was the highest career total for catchers until being surpassed by Joe Mauer in 2009.
- He hit for the cycle twice in his career, on July 22, 1932 and on August 2, 1933.
No comments:
Post a Comment